‘Did you threaten Miss Tremaine?’

‘No, I danced with her after that and I said I wanted to marry her but her father wouldn’t let me ask her and she burst into tears, right on the dance floor. Her mother came up and dragged her off. Disgraceful!’

Harry studied Cyril while the interview was going on. He could imagine such as Cyril being capable of murder. He was an extremely vain fop from the top of his bear-greased hair to his tiny patent leather boots. He had a smooth round barbered face, small eyes and a small mean mouth.

‘Did she talk about any friends, any acquaintances?’

‘No; may I go now?’

‘I suggest you remain in London for the time being. If you have urgent business in the country, you must report to me.’

‘That’s it!’ said Cyril furiously. ‘I’m off. The Prime Minister shall hear of your treatment and no, I am not going back to The Club in your rotten motor car. I shall take a hack.’

Rose awoke late the next day. There was no sign of Daisy. She washed and dressed and went through to the living-room.

‘Where is Daisy?’ asked Rose.

‘She very kindly took the children to school and then said she would go for a walk. I’ll make you some breakfast although they’ll all soon he back for dinner.’

Rose was feeling uneasy and ashamed of her remark about peasants. What if they had heard her?

Sally bent over her cooking pots. ‘It’s Plomley Fair next week and the girls are crying out for new dresses, but I told them there isn’t the money to buy new frocks every year.’

Rose thought about all her gowns lying in suitcases in the stables. ‘I have a great deal of clothes I will not need while I am here,’ she said. ‘I will go out to the stables and select some items which can be made over for the girls.’

Sally stared in amazement at the young lady she had thought was a chilly aristocrat. Rose suddenly smiled. ‘If I were to do something, the time would pass more quickly. That way it would please your little girls and it would please me.’

‘Well, in that case . . .’

‘I’ll go now,’ said Rose.

Daisy collected the children from school. She had already made a slingshot for Alfred out of a small forked branch and one of her garters, and had bought sweets for the rest at the local village shop. ‘You’re not to eat them, mind,’ she cautioned, ‘until after you’ve had your dinner.’

She was still furious with Rose for being so high and mighty. Daisy was enjoying all this freedom of being away from the rigid class system of London’s top ten thousand.

When they all crowded into the living-room, an amazing sight met their eyes. On the horsehair sofa were spread out gowns in fine muslins, silks and satins.

‘Ah, Daisy,’ said Rose, ‘I was just saying to Sally that we could make over some of my gowns to provide the girls with new dresses for the fair.’